HAMDEN, Conn. – No one can deny the passion that both sides played with on a brisk Wednesday afternoon. That passion was seen on every challenge and every tackle during this in-state rivalry. It was also seen as the Stags tried to fight back from their 2-0 halftime deficit. In the end, Melanie Hingher was able to cut into the deficit with her first career score but the Quinnipiac Bobcats were able to hang on to take a 2-1 decision.
The physicality of the match was set from the beginning with 16 fouls called in the first half. That physical theme prevented many opportunities in the first few minutes, with both teams combining for just one shot in the first 15 minutes. That attempt came off the foot of Hingher who found a loose ball inside the box, but the tap from the freshman was picked up by the Quinnipiac goalkeeper Olivia Myszewski while on the ground.
Fairfield would have the next attempt in the 15th minute when Anna Borea reached the box off a free kick that hit the head of Brenna Brown, but the ball squibbed off her head and was picked up after a bounce.
Quinnipiac started to turn the pressure up after the 15-minute mark registering three shots in a six minute span. That pressure culminated in the biggest foul in the 27th minute when the Stags tried to clear the ball off a corner kick. In the process a Stags defender was called for a foul in the box setting up a penalty kick. Kelly Caruso was able to convert the opportunity in the lower right corner.
The Bobcats extended their advantage 13 minutes later when Ally Grunstein hit a bouncing one-timer into the net to take a 2-0 halftime lead, the first time in the MAAC campaign the Stags went into the break trailing.
Fairfield had a chance in the first few minutes to open the second stanza on a potential breakaway but Myszewski went off her line right in front of the charging Jenny Jacobs.
Just like in the first half, Borea created the next best opportunity for the Stags when the senior launched a free kick into the box, but the header from Jenn Wahlig was picked up by the keeper.
The Stags finally found the back of the net in the 63rd minute when Jacobs sent a floating ball from just on the side of the penalty area and Hingher was able to get her head on the pass and knock it over the keeper for the first points of her career.
The Bobcats were able to settle their backline down and did not allow another Fairfield shot for the next 30 minutes. The last chance for the Stags came with just two minutes left but Hingher's header off the corner kick went wide. Both teams took nine shots but Quinnipiac was whistled for 19 of the 33 fouls in the match.
Fairfield will continue their road trip with a visit to Iona on Saturday at 1pm.
